Maine elects Stephen Lane as bishop coadjutor
Episcopal News Service. October 26, 2007 [102607-01]
Mary Frances Schjonberg
The Rev. Stephen Lane was elected October 26 as bishop coadjutor of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine.
Lane, 58, canon for deployment and ministry development in the Diocese of Rochester, was elected on the first ballot out of a field of three nominees. He received 140 votes of 220 cast in the lay order and 96 of 124 cast in the clergy order. An election on that ballot required 111 in the lay order and 63 in the clergy order.
The election took place during the 188th annual diocesan convention at the Bangor Civic Center in Bangor, Maine.
Lane will serve with diocesan Bishop Chilton R. Knudsen until her planned retirement in 2008 and will then succeed her as the ninth bishop of Maine.
Under the canons the Episcopal Church (III.16.4 (a)), a majority of bishops exercising jurisdiction and diocesan standing committees must consent to Lane's election and ordination as bishop within 120 days of receiving the consent request.
As canon for deployment and ministry development in the Diocese of Rochester in New York, Lane is responsible for formation, ordination and deployment of clergy, as well as social justice issues and the diocesan version of the Safe Church training program. Ordained in 1978, Lane has served in upstate New York in a number of congregations and diocesan staff roles. He also served for six years as a member of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rochester, New York, and a Master of Divinity from Colgate-Rochester, Bexley Hall, Crozer seminaries, also in Rochester.
The other candidates were:
- the Rev. Linda L. Grenz, 57, president of the board, LeaderResources, Leeds, Massachusetts and assisting priest, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine in New York City (Diocese of New York);
- the Rev. Debra Kissinger, 46, missioner to children and child advocate, Diocese of Bethlehem
Upon accepting the post the bishop coadjutor-elect spoke to convention delegates by speakerphone. "I'm very excited to be with all of you and to begin God's work together. Thanks for your trust in God and the discernment process. This is something we will do together," Lane said. "I am humbled by the opportunity and thank the Search and Transition Committees for their care and my fellow nominees, Debra and Linda, for their companionship."
The Episcopal Diocese of Maine is a community of 67 congregations across the state of Maine.
Further information about Maine's election is available here.